Villainy

Reviewed by Julia Stier
VP Productions and Whitefire Theatre
Through November 7

H.H. Holmes was a true lady-killer. He liked to love them and leave them… to die. John Strysik’s new play Villainy, or H.H. Holmes’ Own Story, directed by Jeff G. Rack, is a journey through the crimes of America’s first known serial killer.

After Henry Howard Holmes — who went by many different names in his lifetime — is caught and charged for his crimes, he feigns innocence. However, when William Randolph Hearrst offers him a large sum of money to tell the real story — an offer that Hearrst actually made in real life – Holmes’ greed takes over his senses, and he writes about what really happened. This is that story.

Holmes re-entered public consciousness when Erik Larson’s work of historical non-fiction, The Devil in the White City (Crown Publishers, 2003) was published. This story introduced many to the horrors of Holmes and his “castle,” and the havoc he wreaked during the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. For those who have not read this book or know Holmes’ background, the play is a bit confusing. Told in a series of flashbacks, the narrative comes out choppy. However, it is a gruesome tale befitting this ghoulish time of year.

Eric Keitel is suave as the smooth-talking Holmes. His kind face and soft tone of voice are surely not those of a killer, right? Tor Brown, who mainly plays Holmes’ subconscious, is wonderfully transformational. He slips into many different characters, and is particularly endearing as the naïve, working class man, Ben Pitezel. The four actors who make up a multitude of victims (Jennifer Novak Chun, McKenzie Eckels, Nathalie Rudolph, and Tanya Raisa) easily and skillfully take on a variety of characters. Novak is also responsible for creating a ghoulish mood with her beautifully haunting cello playing before the start of the show.

Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Venture Blvd., Sherman Oaks; Wed., 8 p.m.; through Nov. 7. 818-990-2324 or www.whitefiretheatre.com. Running time: 90 minutes, with no intermission.